ESPN Unlimited vs ESPN Select: What's the Difference and Which Plan Do You Need?

ESPN Select is the old ESPN+ under a new name. It costs $13.99 a month and covers streaming-only events, but it doesn't include the ESPN TV channels. ESPN Unlimited costs $31.99 a month and adds every ESPN network plus NFL Network, so it's the plan for watching Monday Night Football, the NBA or college football on ESPN without a cable package. Some participating TV or mobile providers let eligible customers activate ESPN Unlimited without a separate ESPN subscription; access and content vary by provider.

Prices at a glance (October 2026)

Plan	Monthly	Annual	What you get
ESPN Select	$13.99	$139.99	ESPN+ content only
ESPN Unlimited	$31.99	$319.99	All ESPN networks, ESPN+ and NFL Network
Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Unlimited bundle	From $35.99	n/a	ESPN Unlimited plus Disney+ and Hulu

ESPN raised Select and Unlimited prices this fall. Subscribers from before August 20, 2026 kept their old rate until their first bill after September 17, 2026.

What ESPN Select covers

Select includes ESPN+ programming such as top-tier soccer, PGA TOUR, NHL, college sports and other events that stream only on ESPN+. It won't give you the live ESPN or ESPN2 channels, so most big NFL, NBA and college football broadcasts are out.

What ESPN Unlimited adds

Unlimited includes ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN+, ESPN on ABC, SECN+, ACCNX and NFL Network. If you upgrade from Select, the change takes effect immediately and you pay a prorated amount.

You may already have it

ESPN says eligible customers of participating TV or mobile providers may activate Unlimited through their existing package. Some content may still depend on the channels the provider carries. If your package carries ESPN, check its activation instructions and included content before paying for another subscription. Our Mediacom Variety TV guide and Fubo vs ESPN Unlimited comparison walk through two common cases. Hockey fans should also read NHL Center Ice vs ESPN Power Play.

Which plan should you choose?

• Choose Select if you mainly follow soccer, golf, NHL or smaller college sports that stream on ESPN+.
• Choose Unlimited if you want ESPN's TV channels, Monday Night Football or NFL Network without cable.
• Choose the Disney+ and Hulu bundle if you already pay for either one, since the bundle starts only a few dollars above Unlimited.
• Check activation through your existing TV package first; a separate subscription may be unnecessary if you are eligible.

Internet speed for ESPN streaming

A steady 25 Mbps connection gives headroom for HD sports, especially when other devices are online; it is not a minimum requirement for every stream. Wired or strong Wi-Fi connections cut down on buffering during live games.